YU National Model United Nations Conference IX Draws Record Turnout

The Office of Admission's YUNMUN IX (Yeshiva University National Model United Nations) was a success once again. The conference took place from February 7-9, hosting over 500 students from more than 30 yeshiva high schools across North America. It was the largest model UN of its kind.

The purpose of the event, sponsored by the Office of Admissions, is recruitment. Students come, however, to partake in an educational, social, and often times competitive conference.

While the effectiveness of YUNMUN as a recruiting event is difficult to gauge, participants agreed that the conference is representative of the University's Torah U'Madda motto in the form of a positive experience. "In conjunction with this year's ranking, YUNMUN showed me the academic side of YU of which I was unaware," said one Los Angeles student who was waiting to hear from Columbia, Penn, and YU. "I never realized the role that Stern had under the YU umbrella until now. It's fantastic," said one high school woman.

Under the leadership of Aliza Fox, Secretary General, Kenny Sicklick, Under-Secretary-General, Alison Bogin, USG, and Ben Mantell, USG, there were 15 committees. Stern/SSSB students served as chairs and assistant chairs on more than half of the committees, and YC/SSSB students served on the others. Participation was completely voluntary, and the help of everybody who attended - chairpeople, assistant chairpeople, rapporteurs, waiters and waitresses - was an integral part of the event's success.

Each high school sent a delegation representing one or more countries to an array of committees patterned after the structure of the United Nations. The conduct of the committee sessions was also similar to the parliamentary procedure used in the United Nations. Committee issues ranged from crises involving the IMF to women's rights abroad.

This was the third year that YUNMUN was held at the beautiful Legends Resort in Great Gorge, New Jersey. Once again, the peaceful snow-capped mountain environment proved to be conducive to both work and play.

The festivities began Sunday with the arrival and registration of each of the schools. Unfortunately, the resort was being refurbished, and only half of the rooms had been renovated, so many of the students (and faculty chaperones) were disappointed with the décor. The catering, however, for which YUNMUN is well known, maintained its fine reputation.

After dinner and Maariv, the opening ceremonies included a d'var Torah as well as an address by Aliza Fox, a Stern College senior. Fox expressed her excitement about the event, setting the tone for the conference. Traditionally, the first committee sessions are spent addressing procedural concerns. Said Assistant Chairman Dov Brandstatter, "The caliber of the this year's delegations became clear as early as the first session, they were the best I've seen."

The Torah U'Madda theme that characterizes the YU experience was seen by looking no further than the rigorous YUNMUN program. Monday's schedule consisted of nonstop committee sessions throughout the day interrupted only by davening, shiurim, and meals. The delegate handbook included a section titled, "Speeches, Speeches Everywhere." Indeed. Speech after speech; delegate after delegate; proposal after proposal. The conference yielded many effective and bold resolutions, each committee only to be outdone by the next.

After Shacharit and breakfast on Tuesday morning, delegates either had their final committee sessions or participated in the General Assembly Plenary. Final resolutions were passed in committee, while others were ratified in General Assembly votes. Upon completing final meetings, tensions rose as delegates awaited the Awards Ceremony.

While not the sole purpose of the conference, the Awards Ceremony adds a touch of competitiveness and seriousness where it might not otherwise exist. The goal of each committee session is to solve the topics at hand, not to beat an opponent. The criteria for Best Delegate and runners-up awards include speaking ability, working with others to form coalitions, ability to write and pass resolutions, and general participation. While the individual awards were generally dispersed, The Ramaz School walked away with the Best Delegation, while YULA ended up in second place.

YUNMUN News, a daily paper that updated current issues on each committee, came out each day. Watching the delegates get on their buses to make their trips back home, one could see the paper clutched under each arm to be taken home. The paper provided an informative and fun way to preserve YUNMUN memories.